Judith Herman on Complex PTSD, Coercive Control and Justice

Trigger Warning: Please be advised, this episode contains dialogue about self-harm, abuse, and other sensitive topics. Please take care while listening and feel free to skip this episode if needed.

In this Wired for Connection episode with Polyvagal Institute, host Travis Goodman, LMFT welcomes psychiatrist and trauma pioneer Dr. Judith Herman. Dr. Herman explains how the modern trauma field emerged and why it still fails many survivors of complex trauma and gender based violence. She traces the history from Vietnam veterans and the women’s movement to the recognition of PTSD and the ongoing fight to recognize complex PTSD and coercive control.

We talk about how repeated child abuse, sexual assault, domestic violence and trafficking shape identity, relationships and the nervous system. Dr Herman explains coercive control, the submission and freeze response, and why asking “why didn’t she just leave” misses the reality of danger, dependence and nervous system survival states.

Drawing from her book “Truth and Repair,” she shares what survivors actually want from justice. Acknowledgement, apology and amends. Limits on perpetrators. Communities and systems that stop re blaming and re traumatizing victims. We touch on victim compensation, restorative justice experiments and why current courts often worsen PTSD instead of helping.

The conversation ends with a focus on prevention, early intervention, trauma informed justice, and recognizing complex PTSD in diagnosis and practice. This episode speaks to therapists, advocates, survivors and leaders who want a clear, justice focused view of trauma, power and repair.


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